[241| 



'of them were made of pure goat's fleece, and others of the 

 fleece mixed with wool, cotton, silks, and other fibres, im- 

 parting to these compounds a luster, strength, and durability 

 which no other fibre except silk will secure. Nearly every 

 nation represented at the Exposition presented some beauti- 

 ful manufactures of goat's fleece. India, England, France, 

 and Austria, seemed to excel in the more delicate fabrics, 

 while Turkey exhibited the greatest variety and richness of 

 the raw material. 



In England the manipulation of this staple is practically 

 monopolized by a few parties, who appear adverse to im- 

 parting any information in regard to the manufacture and 

 sale of their fabrics. 



The fleece manufactured in England is mainly produced 

 in Asia Minor from the Angora goat. It is imported to the 

 extent of 3,000,000 pounds per annum, and is known in 

 commerce by the name of mohair. 



Messrs. Hughes & Ronald, wool brokers of Liverpool, 

 in a recent report, thus speak of this Angora fleece : 



" The importation of mohair is of comparatively recent 

 date. It is scarcely a quarter of a century since it was in- 

 troduced into this country. It was for some time chiefly 

 used for the list ends of wollen cloths, and commanded but 

 little attention, but for some years past it has been greatly 

 gaining in favor for the fancy trade, and has now become an 

 article of considerable importance, our annual import being 

 3,000,000 pounds weight. It is particularly adapted for 

 damasks, velvet for coach-linings and curtains, and ladies' 

 dresses, mixed with cotton and silk, and produces a most 

 agreeable texture. A large quantity of the yarn spun in 

 this country is exported to France and Germany, where it is 

 chiefly manufactured into velvet. The fashion has this year 

 run very much upon mohair for ladies' dresses, and every 

 thing on the spot has been bought up for home consump- 

 tion." 



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